ALLIEDS MATCH REPORTS 2006-07
 

NORTHWOOD YOUTH 3  HAREFIELD UNITED YOUTH 1 

Northwood bounced back from last Monday’s defeat at Harefield to win the return match following a blistering start to the game. 

With only two minutes on the clock a Jack Bennett corner was not dealt with by a static defence, and Elliott Buchanan was on hand to stab it home. The lead was doubled eight minutes later when excellent inter play between Daniel Brown and Aryan Tajbak released Shane O’Neill in the box. O’Neill coolly finished from 12 yards out in to the corner of the net.

Northwood fully dominated the rest of the first half. On 32 minutes a wonderful cross from Bennett was headed just wide by O’Neill. Then a minute later a 30 yard ball from Daniel Brown gave Buchanan the chance to increase the lead, but the striker just failed to connect cleanly and the ball flew wide. On 40 minutes another fine move ended with Buchanan passing to Brown inside the box, and Brown tried to bend it in to the corner, but the keeper anticipated this and made a smart save.

Half time came and the lads were well worth their two goal lead. Half time advice simply consisted of keeping the tempo up and not to rest on their laurels. The Harefield management team had clearly had a few words to say at half time and it was evident that they intended to make the second half in to a real contest.

Sure enough, it looked like the visitors had got a goal back on 55 minutes. The very lively centre forward smashed in a left footed volley. However, an astonishing reaction save by Anthony Ladyman somehow managed to divert the ball on to the bar. You really had to be there to appreciate the quality of this save…breathtaking. 

However, the breakthrough did come five minutes later when the same striker got on to a long ball forward and cleverly lobbed the ball in to the net.

Northwood made a triple substitution to try and pep things up. Chris White came on for Bennett, Ryan Duffy for Tajback and Mikele Thomas for O’Neill.

The last third of the game was pretty end to end. Elliott Buchanan was unlucky with two quality strikes from distance but Harefield also threatened the home goal on a number of occasions.  The match was finally sealed in the 89th minute when Chris White advanced down the left, and crossed low for Buchanan to slot home.

So, a very good first half followed by a flatter second, which in the circumstances was possibly inevitable. Man of the match went to Anthony Ladyman, who was excellent throughout, and made a second half save to truly savour. Elliott Buchanan ran him close.

NIGEL TROUT